The Vice-Chair in-the-Chair gave his best wishes to the Chair, Councillor Derek Carnell, after his recent accident and wished him a speedy recovery.

For the remainder of these minutes, the Vice-Chair in-the-Chair will be referred to as the Chair.

Visitors and members of the public who are unfamiliar with the building and procedures are advised that:

(a)      The fire alarm is a continuous loud ringing. In the event that a fire drill is planned during the meeting, the Chair will advise of this.

(b)      Exit routes from the chamber are located on each side of the room, one directly to a fire escape, the other to the stairs opposite the lifts.

(c)      In the event of the alarm sounding, leave the building via the nearest safe exit and gather at the assembly point on the far side of the car park. Do not leave the assembly point or re-enter the building until advised to do so. Do not use the lifts.

(d)      Anyone unable to use the stairs should make themselves known during this agenda item.

The Chair outlined the emergency evacuation procedure.

To approve the Minutes of the meeting held on 15 February 2023 (Minute Nos. 652 - 657) as a correct record.

To accept the minutes of the following Licensing Sub-Committee meetings:

23 February 2023 (Minute Nos. 703 – 708);

2 March 2023 (Minute Nos. 752 – 756);

27 April 2023 (Minute Nos. 830 – 834);

4 July 2023 (Minute Nos. 165 – 169);

6 July 2023 – reconvened (Minute Nos. 178 – 182);

31 August 2023 10 am (Minute Nos. 230 – 234);

31 August 2023 2 pm (Minute Nos. 235 – 239);

10 October 2023 10 am (Minute Nos. to-follow);

10 October 2023 2 pm (Minute Nos. to-follow).

The Minutes of the Meeting held on 15 February 2023 (Minute Nos. 652 – 657) were taken as read, approved and signed by the Chair as a correct record.

The Minutes of the following Licensing Sub-Committees were accepted by the Chair:

23 February 2023 (Minute Nos. 703 – 708);

2 March 2023 (Minute Nos. 752 – 756);

27 April 2023 (Minute Nos. 830 – 834);

4 July 2023 (Minute Nos. 165 – 169);

6 July 2023 – reconvened (Minute Nos. 178 – 182);

31 August 2023 10 am (Minute Nos. 230 – 234);

31 August 2023 2 pm (Minute Nos. 235 – 239);

10 October 2023 10 am (these minutes were on the agenda, but the meeting was cancelled);

10 October 2023 2 pm (these minutes were on the agenda, but the meeting was cancelled).

The Council operates a scheme of public speaking at meetings of the Licensing Committee. Requests to speak at the meeting must be registered by Democratic Services by noon on Wednesday 18 October 2023 and must be related to an item on the Agenda. Each speaker has a maximum of three minutes to speak.

No one had registered to speak.

Councillors should not act or take decisions in order to gain financial or other material benefits for themselves, their families or friends.

The Chair will ask Members if they have any disclosable pecuniary interests (DPIs) or disclosable non-pecuniary interests (DNPIs) to declare in respect of items on the agenda. Members with a DPI in an item must leave the room for that item and may not participate in the debate or vote. 

Aside from disclosable interests, where a fair-minded and informed observer would think there was a real possibility that a Member might be biased or predetermined on an item, the Member should declare this and leave the room while that item is considered.

Members who are in any doubt about interests, bias or predetermination should contact the monitoring officer for advice prior to the meeting.

No interests were declared.

The Licensing Team Leader introduced the report as set out in the agenda papers.

The Chair invited Members to make comments, and these included:

·         The report was clear and concise;

·         there was a typo on new paragraph 7.17, and it should read ‘…..are participating in events which will have been through the Safety Advisory Group process.’; and

·         clarification sought on the nature of the consultation process, noting that responses to consultations were often low and more engagement was encouraged.

The Licensing Team Leader explained the consultation process and said there was a statutory requirement for notification of consultations to be advertised in local newspapers.  Consultations were also added to the Council’s website.  The Council’s Communications Team advertised them via social media, and responses were invited either via letters or email.  With other types of consultations, the actual trade was engaged with more directly.

Councillor Rich Lehmann moved the recommendations, and these were seconded by Councillor Tom Nundy.  On being put to the vote the recommendations were agreed.

Recommended:

(1)       That the draft Swale Borough Council Street Trading Policy 2024 – 2027 be noted and the consultation goes ahead.

(2)      That the policy consultation process be noted, and officers proceed with the same.

The Licensing Team Leader introduced the report as set out in the agenda papers.

The Chair invited Members to make comments, and these included:

·         The Police should be included as a consultee;

·         did not consider that Parish Councils needed to be consultees as Ward Members could feed back to them; and

·         noted there was information included within the Policy on the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill, and wondered if that would be a material consideration.

In response, the Licensing Team Leader explained that the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill was included for completeness, and she explained that when the legislation was adopted, the Council would have enforcement powers and the policy would come back to the Licensing Committee to deal with any relevant amendments.

Councillor Tom Nundy moved the following amendment:  That Kent Police be included as a consultee.  This was seconded by Councillor Richard Palmer.  On being put to the vote, the amendment was agreed.

Councillor Richard Palmer moved the recommendations, and these were seconded by Councillor Tom Nundy.  On being put to the vote the recommendations were agreed.

Resolved:

(1)      That the draft Pavement Licence policy as set out in Appendix I to the report be adopted to run for a period from 1 November 2023 until 31 October 2026.

(2)      That the comments made in the evaluation grid attached as Appendix II to this report be noted.

(3)      That Kent Police be included as a consultee.